Supersonic savings or high-flying availability: You choose.
Most people assume that mileage partnerships and partner award space are like gigantic A380s: immovable, dependable, and slow to change course.
In reality, it’s kind of the opposite. Instead, you should think of it as an F-18 Super Hornet that can turn on a dime at whip-crack speed (and then shoot that dime from 10 miles away).
And there you have perception versus speed-of-sound-breaking reality in the world of partners and miles.
So, it’s time to strap into the cockpit, look at your instrument panel, and set “autopilot” to “manual.” If there was ever a year to change your flying habits, it’s 2020. We’ll show you why, and how.
What Does That Mean for FCF’s Delta-Virgin Hack?
FCF readers know that we’ve been excited about Delta’s Virgin Atlantic loophole for a while now. It’s where you use Virgin Atlantic miles—which you can transfer from Amex, Chase, Marriott, and Citi points programs (rather than using Delta SkyMiles)—to book seats on Delta flights, because Virgin Atlantic offers more low-cost award availability at lower mileage award rates for travel to Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
That flightpath has altered a little in this covid-crazy new reality. Now you need to decide what’s most important to you: cost OR availability. That’s because Delta now releases more low-cost mileage award seats to Europe using Delta SkyMiles than Virgin Atlantic miles. So, unlike the recent scenario, if you use your Delta SkyMiles to fly Delta you will currently have access to more mileage award seats. Whoosh!!! That Super Hornet just flew past. Grab the binoculars and let’s take a closer look at what’s going on.
35,000-Foot Perspective: 12 Examples
FCF research has found that Delta SkyMiles members can pay 160,000 miles and often find unprecedented award availability. For example, Seattle to Paris for travel September through April 2021 (a big window), with space for four people or more on 13+ days a month.
Members of the Virgin Atlantic mileage program still pay the lower rate of 100,000 miles but have less award availability (our alert here). On that same Paris-Seattle route, we found award space for only three months: September to November, with space for four people (also about the same for one or two people) or more on 13+ days a month.
Save Miles Or Have Better Availability? Some Examples.
[table_opt id="6096" style="black-header" width="wide" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
It’s a classic trade-off. Use more miles and get more award space (flexibility), or use fewer miles and get less award space. We had it great for a while there with that lucrative Delta/Virgin loophole. It’s still good, but you can’t always have the best of both worlds to Europe (see the analysis below for other regions).
Who Does This Benefit Most?
This is best for Amex Rewards and Marriott Points members who have the option to transfer to Delta SkyMiles or Virgin Atlantic miles. They’re in the best position to decide if a lower rate of 100,000 miles to Europe is more important, and if so, knowing that mileage award space will be less if transferred to Virgin Atlantic. Flexibility is king, as there are fewer travel dates. If you’re not flexible, be prepared to pay the higher 160,000 miles rate for the award ticket, but have access to more award space.
That’s Europe, What About Other Places?
We’re happy to report that the Delta-Virgin Loophole is still in play for travel to Africa, Asia, and South America.
Delta still releases a very limited number of low-cost mileage award seats to its own SkyMiles members for travel to Africa, Asia, and South America—a different number than it releases to its partner Virgin Atlantic. So, using Virgin Atlantic miles for the same Delta flights can open up low-cost award space that Delta doesn’t offer its own members.
AFRICA FOR $3,093, A SAVINGS OF 61%
The Delta route from Atlanta to Lagos, Nigeria, has award space using Virgin miles for travel September through December. More details here.
The cost to use Delta miles is often 640,000 miles round-trip, and $93 in award taxes, while Virgin Atlantic only charges 120,000 and $93 in taxes.
If you don’t have the miles, the cost to buy them (more on this below) is currently as low as $3,093 round-trip (includes taxes and about $93 in award tax). The lowest published fare is $7,979, a savings of $4,886 (61%).
ASIA FOR $3,036, A SAVINGS OF 52%
Delta flies Atlanta to Seoul and our truffle hounds found award space using Virgin miles for travel September through December. More here for travel to Asia.
The cost to use Delta miles is generally 640,000 miles round-trip and about $36 in award taxes. Virgin Atlantic only charges 120,000 and $36 for taxes.
If you don’t have the miles, the cost to buy them (more below) is as low as $3,036 round-trip (includes taxes and about $36 in award tax). The lowest published fare is $6,318, making for a big savings of $3,282 (52%).
SOUTH AMERICA FOR $2,290, A SAVINGS OF 48%
Delta flies from New York to Sao Paulo and FCF’s team found award space using Virgin miles for travel September through December. More here.
The cost to use Delta miles is generally 700,000 miles round-trip and about $40 in award taxes, while Virgin Atlantic only charges 90,000 miles and $40 for taxes.
If you don’t have the miles, the cost to buy them (more below) is as low as $2,290 round-trip (includes taxes and about $40 in award tax), while the lowest published fare is $4,387, a savings of $2,097, or 48%.
BUY MILES CHEAPLY
Buy Amex Membership Reward points for 2.5 cents each and transfer them to Virgin Atlantic. Check out How to Buy American Express Membership Rewards Points, and When to Buy Miles Instead of Purchasing a Normal Published Fare.
Also, you still have two more credit card partners that transfer to Virgin Atlantic: Chase and Citi points.
HOW TO SEARCH FOR DELTA FLIGHTS THAT CAN BE BOOKED ONLINE USING VIRGIN ATLANTIC MILES
There’s no need initially to create a Virgin Atlantic mileage account to check for space. However, if you are booking award space, then you’ll have to log in. Just go to “Book” and click “Advanced search.”
For more on searching for Delta flights, see our special report here (the important information is about halfway down the page with the same header as above).
HOW TO ADD CONNECTING FLIGHTS
If you need to add extra flights to the non-stop Delta flight that has good availability, you’ll have to spend more miles. A one-way domestic (non-transcontinental) flight costs 22,500 more Virgin miles. More on how to book Delta connecting flights with Virgin miles.
NEED-TO-KNOWS WHEN USING VIRGIN ATLANTIC MILES
To review other key details such as credit card partnerships, throughout-the-year transfer bonuses, and mileage award taxes, go here.
Risk Factor when booking with miles?
Both airlines, Virgin Atantic and Delta, have a “travel fee waiver” currently offered for new bookings until June 30. This includes award flights. It means there will be no fees to cancel your ticket.
Normal mileage award booking policies vary by airline, but in general, you can redeposit or change your mileage ticket for as little as $50. Details here.
Think of the change and/or redeposit fee as an insurance policy. If your plans change and you decide not to travel, you can do so with very little hassle and cost. We think it’s definitely worth it.